Slaves

Cape Slave Categories

Written by André van Rensburg.

The Cape slave society was made up of a very diverse group of people. Unlike many other slave societies which had a homogenous group of slaves, the Cape was a 'tower of Babel' society. Slaves from Africa, Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) and the Indian subcontinent

The slaves were also owned by three distinct deferent groups and they had a great diversity of experience.

A. THREE KINDS OF SLAVES1. Company SlavesThey were slaves who belonged to the VOC

According to Armstrong between 1715-1792 only 86 Company slaves were set free. Robert Shell states that during the 170 year slaving period of the Company 108 slaves received their freedom. Shell also states that 103 of them were born at the Cape.

2. Company Official's SlavesThese slaves belonged to those in higher office in the VOC

3. Burgher SlavesThese slaves belonged to the free settlers

B. TRANSPORT TO THE CAPE1. The Company slaves tended to have come by the shipload2. The Officials and Burgher slaves tended to come to the Cape on the returning fleet in small numbers3. Slaves from Madagascar and Mozambique came by the ship load and slaves from India and the Dutch East Indies tended to come in small numbers

C. RACIAL CLASSIFICATION OF SLAVESWith the union between slaves and slaves, burghers/VOC workers and slaves. Other forms of classification was also used.

1. Heelslagh SlavesThese were slaves who did not have European parents. Even if one parent was from Africa and the other from India they were still considered as heelslagh.

2. Halfslagh SlavesOne of the parents, usually the father, was from Europe.